Tennis racket



W. H. FOX

fist. 2%, 1931.

mmmls RACKET Filed Sept. 13. 1928 5, wm w a fl a i w .w g M 4 J 4 1 E My 75 iii KIT K x i x w 7 Patented Oct. 20,

UNHTED STATES WILLIAM H. FOX, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA TENNIS n-AcKET Application filed September 13, 1928. Serial No; 305,813. 1 I

My present invention relates to an improved tennis racket. The trend of modern fast play in tennis is toward a lighter racket and this, in a certain degree, was accomplished by the a open throat structure. While this structure lightened the racket and produced therein a certain degree of flexibility which was very desirable, it weakened the racket to such an extent that it was liable to break under severe strains and this additional flexibility and the resulting torque produced in the handle also had a tendency to open up the glue joints in the handle and cause splits in the finishing strips of the handle. To overcome this weakened condition in an open throat racket, varione different methods are now used to reinforce the throat of the racket with a resulting structure that is stifi and liable to cause the bow of the racket to break, usually adjacent to the handle, when subjected to a severe strain.

The object of my present invention is to embody in the handle of the present type of relatively stiff racket and in the plane of its striking face an elastic member which gives the racket the desired flexibility without impairing the strength thereof. Said invention may be embodied in any type of racket handle constructed of wood, metal or any other suitable material.

To the above end, the invention consists of the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and defined in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate. the invention, like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings:

l is a plan view of a racket having the invention embodied therein;

Fig. 2 is an edge elevation of the same; and

Fig. 3 is a detail view in section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, on an enlarged scale.

The racket in which the invention is embodied may be of any desired construction or make and of the parts of the racket illustrated, the numeral 4 indicates the bow, 5 the strings, 6 the handle which includes finishing strips, and 7 the reinforcement in the throat of the racket. Said racket is made in the usual or customary 'manner by bending 'a strip of wood to form the bow 4t and in gluing the end portions of this strip together to form the'handle' 6. The finishing strips of the handle 6 are glued to opposite faces thereof and cover the glue joint between the members of the handle.

In carrying out the invention, there is inlaid in the handle 6 an elastic member 8 preferably of rubber, which lies in the plane handle 6 that are integral with the bow 4 and extends completely therethrough with the longitudinal edges of said member flush with the respective sides of the handle 6. If desirable, the elastic member 8 and the passage 9 may be extended through the full length of the handle or any part thereof. As one means of holding the rubber member 8 against shifting movement transversely in the handle 6 there is formed in said handle within the passage 9 a pair of opposing longi- I tudinally extended grooves 10 into which ribs 11 on opposite faces of the rubber member 8 extend, as best shown in Fig. 3.

The flexible rubber member 8 may be either preformed and inlaid inthe handle 6 during the construction of the racket or it may be molded by pouring liquid rubber into the passage 9 and molding the same to the form thereof and at which time the ribs 11 are integrally formed with said member by molding the same in the grooves 10. WVhen the rubber member 8 is preformed it may be further secured in the handle 6, in addition to the ribs 11, by cement or other adhesive material. its ribs 11 are molded in the passage 9 and grooves 10, respectively, the liquid rubber will enter the pores and irregularities in the wooden members of the handle and be molded therein and thereby adhesively secure the rubber member 8 in position in the handle 6.

It is importantto note that the passageway 9 extends transversely through the two wooden members of the handle that are integral with the how 4 and the inlaying or molding When the rubber member 8 and i of the rubber member 8 therein and adhesively securing the same thereto forms a tie between said members that reinforces and stren hens the handle 6 and tend to prevent the g ue joint between said members from opening up, and the tendency of the finishing strips of the handle 6 to split.

What I claim is:

A tennis racket having a Wooden handle, said handle having a transverse passageway in the plane of the striking face of the racket, the walls of the passageway being irregular, and a rubber member molded in the passageway, said member fillin the passageway and held against removal tierefrom by said irregular surfaces into which the rubber membe! is molded.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

WILLIAM H. FOX. 

